PhD candidate in Psychology at Princeton University, Bachelor's and Masters' from University of Cambridge. Romanian LO member since 2015, and former Chair of the Romanian PC. Linguistics & psychology content creator @danniesbrain on TikTok and Instagram. Avid singer, fan of board games, and pop/internet culture enthusiast.

PC and Jury member 2011-2023. Works as software quality consultant. Slovenian LO member since the beginning. Travels the world as digital nomad. Enjoys teaching, jigsaw puzzles and food tasting.

BA student in Computational Linguistics at the University of Tübingen. Teaching assistant for syntax & semantics and computational linguistics. Involved with Kazakhstan's LO (PC Chair) and GeO, as well as DOL (Germany). Amateur piphilologist, Wikipedia editor, enjoyer of coffee and Kazakh folk.

Composer of music and linguistic problems, educator, mind sports athlete (mainly competitive Carcassonne). Masters in Linguistics from University of Oxford (2018) and Masters in Music from Sibelius Academy, Finland (2017).

Moscow Traditional Linguistics Olympiad and APLO committee member. Senior lecturer at the Slavic Department at Stockholm University, research fellow at the Сhair of Computational Сorpus Linguistics at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Fond of public transport and cannoli siciliani.

Studied Computer Science with a specialisation in Natural Language Processing at Cambridge University (Bachelor's + Master's). Originally from Slovenia, but I have lived in 6 countries and currently work in the Netherlands. Involved with the linguistic olympiad in Slovenia (primarily as a reviewer) since 2019. I enjoy trail running, board games and bubble tea.

Faculty member at Núcleo Takinahakỹ de Formação Superior Indígena, Federal University of Goiás, specializing in South American indigenous languages. Ph.D. in Linguistics from University of Brasília. Enjoys reptiles and the traditional cultures of Trinidad, Venezuela, Northern Brazil, and Eastern Bolivia.

Undergraduate in Linguistics at Princeton University and NACLO committee member. Interested in Optimality-Theoretic approaches to the morphosyntax-phonology interface, especially Match Theory. Passionate about language revitalization, Zapotec languages, and dispelling transphobia, amatonormativity, and bad linguistics. Lover of fossils, minerals, trees, birds, Chopin études, boba, and other miscellanea and ephemera.

Studied Linguistics at Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (BA) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc), specialising in phonetics and phonology. Hungarian LO member since 2019. Enjoys theatre and classical music.

Linguist specializing in lexicography and semantics, teaching linguistics and languages to children, high school, and university students in Russian, English, German, and Hebrew. Author of hundreds of linguistic problems, including 17 at the IOL. A fan of playing linguistic games, reading books, and researching linguistic games in books.

Co-founder and general coordinator of the Brazilian LO. Works of different projects in education, translation and public communication. In linguistics education, likes to bring insights on the diversity and unicity of human nature. Enjoys traveling, investigating the nature of mind from within and grouping things in sets of three legs.

Studied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, has collaborated with the Polish and Estonian LOs. Interested in language acquisition, historical linguistics, board games and travelling (especially to places with mountains).

PhD student in Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London researching syntax and sociolinguistics of trans & non-binary communities, and UKLO Problem Committee member.

UKLO committee member since 2014. Studied Chinese and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. Now a civil servant who enjoys knitting, cryptic crosswords, and Bollywood dance.

PhD (Cognitive Science, Edinburgh). Associate professor (Institute for Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences); does research in theoretical linguistics, lectures in computational linguistics, natural language processing and Python programming. Singlehandedly in charge of the Olympiad in Linguistics in Bulgaria (since 1998). Co-founder of IOL (2003).

Postdoctoral researcher in Mathematics at the University of Passau. Member of the organizing team of ČLO. Fond of puzzles and games of various sorts, of learning and teaching, and of playing ultimate frisbee.

DPhil student in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at University of Oxford, with primary research focus on historical Japanese linguistics and generative syntax. BA in Linguistics from University College London and MPhil in Linguistics from University of Cambridge. Member of Japan LO committee, UKLO committee and APLO PC. Foodie and a strong tea lover, as well as a passionate fan of card and board games, travelling, and learning new languages.

PhD in General Linguistics and French teacher. Currently studying for a Master’s in French as a Foreign Language (FLE) at the University of Lille, France. Author of ten IOL problems. Parent of three. Enjoys hiking, jogging, and writing.

Moscow Traditional Linguistics Olympiad Problem Committee member since 1997, IOL Problem Committee member since the beginning. Working on Israeli Linguistics Olympiad. And a hobbyist photographer.

BSc student in Computer Science at the Delft University of Technology. Member of Romanian PC since 2023 and co-Chair since 2025. Enjoys board games, travelling and cycling.

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics (Sofia University). Applied mathematician. Bulgarian National Olympiad in Linguistics Problem Committee member since 2010. Author/co-author of dozens of linguistic problems assigned at the national olympiads worldwide, as well as 5 given at the IOL.

Lecturer in Linguistics (phonetics and phonology) at the University of Amsterdam, having completed a BA and research MA at Cambridge and Leiden Universities respectively. (Co-)author of 9 IOL problems. Enjoys board games, D&D, film and (naturally) language learning.

APLO and PLO (India) Problem Committee member. Undergraduate in Computer Science and Linguistics, followed by MEng from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Enjoys painting, Indian classical dance, cooking, and board games.

One of the organizers of Spanish LO. Founder (2001) and permanent director of Traditional Linguistics Summer School in Estonia. Passionate fan of seasonal mushroom-hunting.

Lecturer in the Department of Russian Language and Literature at Seoul National University. Research interests include Russian Literature, Japanese literature, and Comparative Literature.

APLO and HKLO (Hong Kong; also co-founder) Problem Committee member. MA student in linguistics at the National Taiwan University.

Hi, I’m Alesia. I love meeting new people and taking part in activities that make a real difference. I learn best by doing, enjoy working in teams, and like to contribute wherever I can. I’m especially excited to volunteer for IOL for the first time, and I’m looking forward to pursuing studies in International Relations in the future.

Hi, I'm Alexia! I study linguistics in the UK, and I love phonology and computational linguistics. This is my first time volunteering in the IOL, and I can't wait to meet everyone and make this a memorable experience.

Hi everybody! This is my first time taking part in this olympiad, so I'm very excited! My main and dearest passion is volunteering. I love being with those around me, doing them good, helping each other out! I listen to music on vinyl, especially rock, as you see in my picture, I like theater, running, and honest, authentic people.

Hi, I’m Andreea, a biology student who is curious about the world and passionate about learning new things. I enjoy meeting new people, sharing ideas, and building meaningful connections.

I'm Anya, a mathematician who's also passionate about languages and linguistics. I'm currently doing my Master's in statistics in Berlin and in my free time I enjoy singing, knitting, dancing historical dances and travelling. I look forward to seeing you in Romania and hope for us to have a great time together at this year's IOL!

Hii, I'm Atako! I was a contestant in the 2024 IOL and I'm super excited to be back as a volunteer in Romania. I'm currently studying my Bachelors in (pure) Mathematics. I love climbing, travelling (adventures in the middle of nowhere), playing instruments and singing. Looking forward to meeting you all and a warm welcome to IOL 2026!!

Hello! I'm Eliška :) I competed for Ireland at IOL in Brazil in 2024 and I am SO excited to be back this year as a volunteer! I'm a law student currently based in London and my hobbies include reading, crafts, walking and exploring cities. Can't wait for an amazing week in Romania!

Hello! I'm Esteban. I was a contestant in 2023 and a volunteer in 2024. I'm a third year mathematics student, hoping to become an academic someday :). When I'm not doing maths, I enjoy watching movies, going to concerts, trying new foods and meeting new people. I'm SO EXCITED for this year's IOL. See you in Romania!

Hi! I’m Ioana, I've been a contestant in the past two IOLs and had an amazing experience, so I’m excited to see what this year brings, this time from behind the scenes. I’m currently a Computer Science student in Bucharest who absolutely loves linguistics (I actually authored two problems for the Romanian Linguistics Olympiad this year!!!). I also enjoy singing, reading and board games. Wishing everyone a very warm welcome to IOL 2026!

Hi, I’m Karina :) I was a contestant at IOL 2024, held in Brazil, and I’ve stayed deeply involved with the Olympiad ever since. I’m currently studying Computer Science, but I’d love to combine my passions and go into Computational Linguistics in the future. I love learning new languages, spending time with animals, and travelling. I can’t wait to meet you all - this time as a volunteer :) Welcome to the IOL!

Hi, I'm Manoela :) I have been a contestant at IOL in 2022 and 2023, and I am so excited to join the volunteering team this year! In college I study Cognitive Science and Philosophy (both with bits of linguistics haha), and I also love to hike and run, climb, knit and crochet, and cook. Welcome to IOL!!!

Hi! My name's Oscar and I'm so excited to volunteer this year and give back to the incredible IOL! I competed in Bulgaria in 2023 and loved it so much. I am now studying maths at university and outside of the IOL I love making music, dancing, climbing, hiking, food and cats! We're so excited to welcome you, you're all gonna have the best time at IOL 2026!

I'm Roosmari, a volunteer of many years and the social media manager for IOL. I'm an international business student in Nürnberg, Germany and I love linguistics (obviously), travelling, arts, music, coffee and hedgehogs. Welcome to IOL 2026! :)

Hello! My name is Ruxandra, and I'm very excited to be on the IOL volunteer team this year! I'm currently a high school senior, but I'm planning on studying Computational Linguistics and Theatre in college. I love travelling, drawing, painting, photography and meeting new people. I hope we'll make many wonderful memories together at IOL 2026!

Hi, I'm Sasha! I competed in the IOL in 2023 and 2024, and I'm so, so, SO excited to be back as a volunteer. I study Cognitive Science and Linguistics in college, and in my free time, I read, journal, do theater and visit cozy coffeeshops. Welcome to the IOL — I hope you're as excited as I am :)

Hi, I’m Susan! I’m from Shanghai, China and I was a contestant at IOL 2023 in Bulgaria. Linguistics Olympiads have been a big part of my life since then, so I’m very excited to be back! I’m currently in my first year of college studying linguistics and psychology. I also love reading, birding, spending time with my cat, watching gymnastics and making crafts. Have a great time at IOL 2026 <3

Hi! I'm Vítor, and I found out about IOL in 2024 because it would be hosted in my hometown, Brasília. Since then, I fell in love with all the problem solving and planning that comes with working in the IOL. I love esports, F1, football and pretty much any sort of competition that exists. Wishing everyone an amazing IOL 2026 <3

Hello! I'm Vlad (yes, a pretty common name in Romania). I have been competing in Linguistics Olympiads of some kind or another for as long as I can remember, but so far never got to be a volunteer. I'm really excited to see what it's like to be on the other side, and in the meantime I can't wait to make some wonderful memories!

I'm Heccy! I'm from Team Singapore '24 and '25, and I can't wait to meet you as part of Team Volunteers 2026. Apart from studying linguistics (inspired by this very competition!) + philosophy in the UK, in my free time I love ballroom dancing, birdwatching, playing with cats, and admiring all the beautiful vibrant colours of the arts and the world. Welcome to IOL! ♡✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*｡

IOL contestant in 2016 and volunteer in 2018. Member of the organizing team of Czech Linguistic Olympiad. Flavour physicist, puzzle hunter, tea hoarder, tiny photographer, undecided artist.